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Introduction

Disturbances of micturition are a common problem in general practice, with an annual incidence of about 20 per 1000 patients at risk.1 Such disturbances include dysuria, frequency of micturition, difficulty or inability to initiate micturition, stress incontinence and haematuria. These symptoms are three times as common in women as in men.1 The combination of dysuria and frequency is the most common of the symptoms with an incidence of about 14 per 1000 patients and a female:male ratio of 5:1.1

Among children and the elderly, the patient may complain of urinary incontinence unassociated with stress. However, with the exception of enuresis (CHAPTER 91), disturbances of micturition are uncommon in children.

Dysuria and frequency

Dysuria, or difficult and/or painful micturition, which is characterised mainly by urethral and suprapubic discomfort, indicates mucosal inflammation of the lower genitourinary tract (i.e. the urethra, bladder or prostate). The passage of urine across inflamed mucosa causes pain. Frequency can vary from being negligible to extreme. It can be ‘habit frequency’ or associated with anxiety, which is typically long term and worse with stress and cold weather. In these conditions urinalysis is normal. Sometimes haematuria and systemic symptoms can accompany dysuria and frequency.